Luk 22:54 Then they arrested him and led him away, bringing him into the high priest’s house, and Peter was following at a distance.
Luk 22:55 And when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat down among them.
Luk 22:56 Then a servant girl, when she saw him as he sat in the light and stared at him, said, “This man also was with him.”
Luk 22:57 But he denied it. This is what he said: “Woman, I do not know him.”
Luk 22:58 And a little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.” But Peter said, “Man, I am not.”
Luk 22:59 And after an interval of about an hour still another insisted, saying, “Certainly this man also was with him, for he too is a Galilean.”
Luk 22:60 But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about.” And at once, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed.
Luk 22:61 And the Lord turned around and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the statement of the Lord, that he had said to him, “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.”
Luk 22:62 And he went out and cried bitterly.

ashamed of being ashamed

The wisdom of Jesus’ words, and the power demonstrated by his miracles, and the holiness he demonstrated in his personal life had given Peter no reason to be ashamed — until now. Peter had just seen his master led away to be tried as a criminal. The pride with which he had just boasted of his never dying loyalty to Christ melted away like butter on a summer day. He was curious about what would happen at Jesus’ trial, but he wanted to keep his distance, because he was ashamed.

Cock-a-doodle doo. “What am I saying? I just told this servant girl that I do not know Jesus. How can I deny him like that?

Cock-a-doodle doo. “Again? What is wrong with me? Where is my backbone?

Cock-a-doole doo. “Three times? Didn’t Jesus say something about a rooster? Wait. He’s turning around. He seems to be looking straight at me? Does he know? Of course he knows. He is Jesus, and I just denied knowing him three times.”

LORD, we also feel shame for those times we have chosen the comfort of anonymity rather than confess our devotion to you.